Coin separators



June 23, 1964 Filed June 15, 1960 FIG. 11 I 1-92 e. F. ERICKSON ETAL3,138,165

com SEPARATORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ,6 us my F. ER/CKJO/V FRANCIS77 VACCA 120 JEROME BUDDE/YBA UM Arrk June 1964 s. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,

COIN SEPARATORS Filed June 15, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1964 G. F.ERICKSON ETAL 3,138,155

COIN SEPARATORS Filed June 13, 1960 6 Shets-Sheet 5 Gusm Vl-T ERIC/(JONFAA/VC/J 7: Kmcmeo JEROME fiuaaa/vanum er W ATTK United States Patent3,138,165 COIN SEPARATIERS Gustav F. Erickson, Kirkwood, Francis T.Vaccaro, Pagedale, and Jerome Buddenbaurn, @verland, Mo., assignore toNational Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of MissouriFiled June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,504 13 Claims. (CI. 133-5) Thisinvention relates to improvements in coin separators. More particularly,this invention relates to improvements in money-dispensing devices.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved money-dispensing device.

It is customary, in money-dispensing devices, to provide ejector's andto mount money storage tubes adjacent those ejectors. Those tubes supplycoins or currency to those ejectors and those ejectors then dispense therequired numbers of coins or currency. When the supply of coins orcurrency runs low, the operator usually reaches into themoney-dispensing device and inserts further coins or currency into thosetubes. In many cases, it is either awkward or inconvenient to reach intothe money-dispensing device and insert further coins or currency, and,consequently, it would be desirable to provide a money storage tube thatcould be bodily inserted within or bodily removed from money-dispensingdevices. Such a tube could be taken to a convenient place and filled andthen re-inserted in the money-dispensing device. The prsent inventionprovides such a tube; and it is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a money storage tube which is bodily insertablewithin and is bodily removable from a money-dispensing device.

The money storage tube provided by the present invention has a closurethat is biased into position to cover the outlet of that tube. Thatclosure will automatically move into position to cover the outlet ofthat tube whenever that tube is bodily removed from the money-dispensingdevice. Further, that closure will automatically move into position touncover that outlet whenever that tube is bodily inserted within themoney-dispensing device. Such a tube and closure make it possible tohandle that tube freely without any risk of losing money. Further,

that tube and closure constitute a simple and effective receptacle inwhich to transport money. It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a money storage tube which has a closure thatautomatically moves to cover the outlet of that tube whenever that tubeis bodily removed from a money-dispensing device and that auto maticallymoves to uncover the outlet of that tube whenever that tube is bodilyinserted within a money-dispensing device.

Where coins are to be stored within a money storage tube, those coinswill preferably be supported by a spring and will be urged upwardlytoward the open upper end of that tube by that spring. Where a largenumber of coins are to be stored within that tube, the spring will haveto be quite long; and such a spring will tend, as that tube is beingfilled, to rotate relative to that tube. That rotation is not alwayseasy; and that rotation can be difficult where the spring is long andhas a large cross section. The present invention facilitates therotation of the spring within the storage tube by providing elementsadjacent the ends of the spring which facilitate ready rotation of thoseends. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provideelements adjacent the ends of a spring to facilitate the rotation ofthose ends.

Where bills are to be stored Within a money storage tube, those billswill be rolled up and then inserted in tubes. Those enclosing tubes willbe light in weight and will not be excessively strong. Such enclosingtubes must ice be kept from jamming because the forces that can beapplied to jammed tubes could collapse those enclosing tubes. Thepresent invention avoids any jamming of the enclosing tubes within themoney storage tube by providing flexible cords that are attached to avertically movable platform within the storage tube. Those cords holdthe enclosing tubes out of engagement with the walls of the storagetube, and those cords move downwardly and upwardly with the supportingplatform. In doing so, those cords facilitate the movement of theenclosing tubes relative to the storage tube. It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide a storage tube which has cords thatspace the enclosing tubes from the interior of the storage tube andwhich can move upwardly and downwardly relative to that storage tube.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description, two preferred embodimentsof the present invention are shown and described but it is to beunderstood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that theinvention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a coin-ejectingassembly that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the right-hand end of the coinejecting assembly ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the coin-ejecting assembly ofFIGS. 1 and 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the ejector used in the coinejecting assemblyof FIGS. 1-3,

FIG. 5 is a partially-broken, partially-sectioned side elevational viewof a coin storage unit that can be used with the coin-ejecting assemblyof FIGS. 1-3,

FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper part of the coin storage unit of FIG.5, and it shows the latch of that coin storage unit in latchingposition,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the part shown in FIG. 6, and it shows thelatch in un-latching position,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the part shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and it showsthe latch in latching position,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the part shown in FIGS. 68, but it shows thatpart before the cover plate and the latch have been assembled with thatpart,

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the latch used with the part of FIGS. 68,

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the upper end of the tube in FIG. 5,

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a lower section of the tube of FIG. 5,

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, on a larger scale, of the springsdisposed within the tube of FIG. 5,

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view showing the coinejecting assembly ofFIGS. l-3 associated with the coin storage unit of FIG. 5, and it showsthe latch in released position,

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but it shows the latch in latchingposition,

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, on a larger scale, of the platformused in the coin storage unit of FIG. 5,

FIG. 17 is a broken, front elevational view of a storage tube for papercurrency,

FIG. 18 is a partially-sectioned, side view of the storage tube of FIG.17,

FIG. 19 is a partially-broken, partially-sectioned side view of acurrency-ejecting assembly within which the storage tube of FIGS. 17 and18 is mounted, and

FIG. 20 is a partially-broken, partially-sectioned, front view of thecurrency-ejecting assembly and storage tube of FIG. 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1-16 in detail, the numeral generally denotes acoin-ejecting assembly that can be mounted in a coin-dispensing device.That assembly includes a horizontally-disposed supporting plate 32 whichhas upwardly extending ears 33 at the ends thereof. Those ears haveopenings 34 therein, and those openings can receive fasteners which cansecure the plate 32 in position within a coin-dispensing device. Flanges36 are provided at the elongated sides of the plate 32, and thoseflanges depend downwardly from those sides. Notches 38, which aregenerally rectangular in elevation, are formed in, and extend upwardlyfrom, the lower edges of the flanges 36. Those notches are spaced fromthe left-hand ends of the flanges 36 distances approximating one quarterof the length of one of those flanges. An ear 40 is bent upwardly out ofthe top of the plate 32 to provide an opening 41 in the top of thatplate, and that ear is inclined from lower left to upper right. formedin the top of the plate 32, and those slots extend longitudinally ofthat plate. As indicated by FIG. 3, those slots terminate short of theright-hand end of the plate 32 and terminate well short of the opening41 in that plate.

The numeral 44 denotes the bottom plate of the coinejecting assembly 30;and that plate is provided with longitudinally-extending ridges 46 thatproject upwardly from the upper surface of that plate. Flanges 48 extenddownwardly from the elongated sides of the plate 44, and those flangesare dimensioned to fit between and to closely engage the flanges 36 onthe plate 32. The flanges 48 are provided with downwardly-directedextensions 50, and those extensions project downwardly below the bottomedges of the flanges 36 on the plate 32. A notch 52 is formed in each ofthe extensions 50, and those notches are contiguous with the notches 38in the flanges 36 of the plate 32. A ring 54 is secured to the undersideof the plate 44 and is concentric and contiguous with an opening 55 inthe plate 44. The ring 54 has a reduced-thickness lower edge 56, asshown by FIGS. 2 and 3. The plate 44 also has a forwardly and downwardlyinclined front edge 58.

The numeral denotes an ejector plate which is flat, but which hasupwardly-projecting ears 64. The cars 64 extend upwardly into andthrough the slots 42 in the plate 32. Those ears can be suitably engagedby actuators, not shown, to cause movement of the ejector plate 60relative to the plate 32 and relative to the bottom plate 44. Theleading edge 62 of the ejector plate 60 is concave, and that leadingedge has a curvature complementary to that of the coins to be ejected.The ejector plate 60 will rest upon the ridges 46 on the plate 44 andwill underlie the top plate 32. Suitable spacers, not shown, will beprovided between the plate 32 and the plate 44 to hold those platesspaced apart a pre-determined distance. Further, suitable guide rollers,not shown, will be provided intermediate the plates 32 and 44 to guidethe movement of the ejector plate 60.

Referring to FIGS. 5-9, the numeral 66 generally denotes a casting thathas the form of a parallepiped. That casting has a cylindrical passage68 through it, and that passage is vertically-directed. A discontinuousflange 70 is provided at the top of that casting, and that discontinuousflange defines a central recess in the top of that casting, and it alsodefines slots 72, 74 and 76. There are two slots 72; and they areoppositely disposed, as indicated particularly by FIG. 9. The slot 74 isat the left-hand end of the casing 66, and the slot 76 is opposite theslot 74. A small boss or abutment 71 extends upwardly from the recess inthe top of the casting 66, and that boss is immediately adjacent thepassage 68. A metal ball 73 is disposed within a socket in the upperface of the recess in the top of casting 66; and a spring, not shown,underlies that ball. The ball normally projects upwardly above Two slots42 also are the botom of the recess, but the spring can yield to permitthat ball to be moved down until its top is flush with that recess.

The numeral 78 generally denotes a latch which has an enlarged left-handend; and that left-hand end fits within the recess defined by thediscontinuous flange 70 at the top of the casting 66. That latch has twoears 82, and those ears fit within the slots 72 defined by the flange70. The cars 82 are narrower than the slots 72 and hence those carspermit reciprocation of the latch 78 relative to the casting 66. An car84 extends outwardly through the slot 74 defined by the flange 70 on thecasting 66, and the narrow right-hand end of the latch 78 extendsthrough the slot 76 defined by that flange. The car 84 and the narrowright-hand end of the latch 78 coact with the portions of the flange 70which define the slots 74 and 76 to guide the reciprocation of the latch73. The latch 78 has an opening therein, and that opening has a diameterequal to the diameter of the passage 68 through the casting 66. A notch79 is provided in the latch 78, adjacent the open ing 80, and that notchis in register with the boss 71 in the recess of casting 66. Afinger-receiving car 86 is formed at the right-hand end of the latch 78,and that latch extends downwardly as shown by FIG. 5. The underside ofthe latch has two recesses 37, and those recesses can accommodate theupper surface of the ball 73.

The thickness of the latch 78 is slightly less than the depth of therecess in the top of the casting 66; and this means that when aconfining plate 88 is suitably secured to the top faces of thediscontinuous flange 70, the latch 7 8 will be free to move relative tothat confining plate. That confining plate has an opening therein, andthat opening is larger than the opening 80 in the latch 78, as shown byFIG. 8. When the latch 78 is set in its left-hand position, as shown byFIG. 7, the center of that opening 80 is disposed to the left of thecenter of the opening 90 in the confining plate 88. However, when thelatch 78 is set in its right-hand position, the openings 89 and 90 areconcentric.

The numeral 92 denotes a sleeve which is secured to the casting 66 andwhich extends downwardly from the bottom face of that casting. Thatsleeve accommodates the upper end of an elongated storage tube 94 whichis preferably rolled from a narrow metal plate. That tube has avertically-directed narrow slot 96; and that slot extends the fulllength of that tube. A notch 98 is formed in the tube 94 adjacent thelower end of that tube; and that notch is contiguous with the slot 96,as shown by FIG. 12. A sleeve 100 encircles the tube 94 at a pointimmediately below the notch 98. A sleevelike closure 102 is provided atthe bottom of the tube 94; and that closure coacts with the sleeves 92and 100 to strengthen and stiffen the tube 94. The closure 162 has a pinprojecting downwardly from the bottom thereof.

Referring to FIG. 16, the numeral 104 generally denotes acoin-supporting platform that is telescoped within the tube 94. Thatplatform has a circular plate 166 at the top thereof; and the diameterof that plate is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube94. A radially-extending car 108 extends through the slot 96 of the tube94, and that ear has a horizontally-directed, finger-receiving flange110. That flange is curved to bend around, and to clear, the outerperiphery of the tube 94.

A circular plate 112 is provided at the bottom of the platform 104, andthe diameter of that plate is slightly smaller than the inner diameterof the tube 94. The plate 112 has a conical indentation in the bottomface thereof; and that indentation is at the center of that plate. Thatindentation accommodates a conical pivot 111 at the upper face of arotatable element 113. That element has a reduced-diameter bottom and ithas a notch 115 in that reduced-diameter bottom.

' A helical compression spring 117 is disposed within the tube 94, andthe upper turn of that spring encircles the reduced-diameter bottom ofthe rotatable element 113. In addition, the upper end of that springextends into the notch 115 in that reduced-diameter bottom. In this way,the upper end and the upper turn of the spring 117 are kept fromsnagging or catching in the slot 96. The lower end of the spring 117encircles the reduced-diameter upper end of'a rotatable element 119; andthe bottom end of that spring seats in a notch 121 in thatreduced-diameter upper end. The bottom face of the rotatable element 119has a conical indentation therein; and that rotatable element isdimensioned to fit within the tube 94. I

The numeral 122 denotes a rotatable element that can also be telescopedwithin the tube 94. That element has a reduced-diameter bottom, and ithas a conical pivot 124 at the upper face thereof. The reduced-diameterbottom of the element 122 telescopes within the top turn of a helicalcompression spring 128, and the top end of that spring is seated withinthe notch 126 in that reduceddiameter bottom. The conical pivot 124extends into the conical indentation in the bottom of the rotatableelement 119.

The bottom turn of the helical compression spring 128 telescopes overthe reduced-diameter upper end of a rotatable element 123, and thebottom end of that spring seats in a notch in that reduced-diameterupper end. In that way, the lower turn and the lower end of the spring128 will be kept from catching or snagging in the slot 96. The rotatableelement 123 has a conical pivot on the bottom face thereof, and thatpivot extends into a conical indentation in the upper face of thesleeve-like closure 102.

The element 113 will facilitate ready rotation of the upper end of thespring 117 relative to the tube 94 and relative to the platform 104. Theelement 119 will facilitate ready rotation of the lower end of thespring 117 relative to the tube 94 and relative to the rotatable element122. This latter element, in turn, will facilitate ready rotation of theupper end of the spring 128 relative to the tube 94 and relative to theelement 119. Further, the element 123 will facilitate ready rotation ofthe lower end of the spring 128 relative to the tube 94 and relative tothe sleeve-like closure 102. In this way, ready and full rotation of theupper and lower ends of the springs 117 and 128 is assured.

With some light-weight springs, it is possible to dispense with therotatable elements 119 and 122 and to use just one continuous spring.However, where quarters or half-dollars are to be dispensed, the springswill be so heavy that the rotatable elements 119 and 122 should be used.

The coin-ejecting assembly 30 will be suitably mounted within acoin-dispensing device; and springs and actuators will be associatedwith that assembly to cause reciprocating movement of the ejector plate60. A suitable control device will also be provided to determine when,and how many, reciprocations of the ejector plate 60 should occur.

The casting 66, the latch 78, the confining plate 88, the tube 94, andthe platform 104 constitute a readily portable unit. That unit can beselectively connected to the coin-ejecting assembly 30 or can beseparated from the coin-ejecting assembly. To connect the unit of FIG.to the assembly of FIG. 1, the user will first insert the elongated pin,at the bottom of the sleeve-like closure 102, within a locating openingin the bottom of the coindispensing device and will then move thecasting 66 so the elongated sides thereof are below but in register withthe downward extensions 50 on the bottom plate 44. As such time, thelatch 78 will be in the left-hand position shown by FIGS. 5 and 7; andthe opening 90 in the confining plate 88 will be below but in registerwith the reduced thickness lower edge 56 of the ring 54. Thereupon, theunit of FIG. 5 will be moved upwardly until the opening 98 telescopesupwardly over the reduced-thickness lower edge 56. That telescoping willprecisely center the upper end of the unit of FIG. 5 relative to thecoin-ejecting assembly 30.

As the unit of FIG. 5 was raised upwardly, the ears 82 on the latch 78passed to the left of the downward extensions 50 on the flanges 48 ofthe plate 44; and when the opening 90 telescoped upwardly over thereducedthickness edge 56 of the ring 54, the ears 82 automatically cameto rest in register with the notches 52 in the downward extensions 50.Consequently, all that remains to be done to lock the unit of FIG. 5 tothe assembly of FIG. 1 is to pull the latch 78 to the right. Thereupon,the ears 82 will be lodged within the notches 52 and will preventaccidental separation of the unit of FIG. 5 from the assembly of FIG. 1.

To separate the unit of FIG. 5 from the assembly of FIG. 1, it is onlynecessary to push the finger-receiving car 86 on the latch 78 to theleft, and then lower the unit of FIG. 5 downwardly and away from theassembly of FIG. 1. The movement of the latch 78 to the left will movethe ears 82 out of the notches 52 in the downward extensionsSt) of theflanges 48 on the bottom plate 44. Thereupon, those ears will permit theunit of FIG. 5 to be moved directly downwardly without any obstructionto that movement.

The ready removability of the unit of FIG. 5 is desirable because it ismuch easier to fill the tube 94 Where that tube is wholly separated fromthe coin-dispensing device than it is to fill that tube where that tubeis mounted within such a device. In loading the tube 94, the operatorwill press down on the finger-receiving ear 110 of the platform 104 andwill thus move that platform down until it is close to the sleeve 180.He will then rotate that platform to place the ear 108 below and inregister with the notch 98 in the tube 94. Thereafter, the operator willrelease the ear 110, and the springs 117 and 128 within the tube 94 willforce the ear 108 up into the notch 98. The platform will thus betemporarily locked against upward movement relative to the tube 94. As aresult, coins can be introduced into the tube 94 without requiring theoperator to overcome the force applied by the springs 117 and 128.

Once the tube 94 has been filled, the latch 78 will be shifted to itsleft-hand position; and, at such time, the opening in that latch will beout of register with the opening in the confining plate 88 and will alsobe out of register with the passage 68 in the casting 66. As a result,the latch 78 will act to prevent the escape of the coins from the tube94. At this time, the ear 110 on the platform 104 can again be moveddownwardly, and then that platform can be rotated to move the ear 108out of register to the notch 98 and into register with the slot 96.Subsequent release of the platform 104 will permit that platform to moveupwardly and to act through the lowermost coin and the coins thereaboveto force the stack of coins up against the bottom face of the latch 78.The unit of FIG. 5 is then ready to be bodily connected to the assemblyof FIG. 1.

The opening 90 in the confining plate 88 will be telescoped over thereduced thickness edge 56 of the ring 54; and then the latch 78 will bemoved to the right. That movement will lock the unit of FIG. 5 to theassembly of FIG. 1 by moving the ears 82 into the notches 52; and thatmovement will also move the opening 80 in the latch 78 into registerwith the opening 90 in the retaining plate 88 and into register with thepassage 68 in the casting 66. At such time, the coins within the tube 94will respond to the compressive forces within the springs 117 and 128 tomove upwardly into engagement with the underside of the plate 32. Theuppermost coin will be adjacent the concave leading edge 62 of theejector plate 64); and it would only be necessary to move that ejectorplate to the left to eject that uppermost coin. It will thus be apparentthat as the unit of FIG. 5 was locked 7 to the assembly of FIG. 1, theoutlet end of the tube of that unit was automatically uncovered.

The present invention also provides substantially automatic covering ofthat outlet end when the unit of FIG. is to be separated from theassembly of FIG. 1. Specifically, whenever the unit of FIG. 5 is to beseparated from the assembly of FIG. 1, there will be a number of coinsresting upon the plate 166 of the platform 104; and if the operatortries to shift the latch 78 to the left without first lowering thosecoins into the tube 94, the coin in the opening 8!) of the latch 78 willabut the boss 71 of the casting 66 and positively block movement of thelatch 78. The operator will then remember that he has not lowered thecoins within the tube 94-, and he will then do so by pressing downwardlyon the ear 110. As soon as the coins are within tube 94, the operatorcan, and will, shift the latch 78 to the left, thereby covering theoutlet end of the tube 94 as the unit of FIG. 5 is released from theassembly of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 17-20, the numeral 139 denotes an elongated,vertically-directed metal plate which has a rearwardly-extending flange131 at the left-hand edge thereof. That plate also has aforwardly-extending flange 132 at the right-hand edge thereof. Thenumeral 134 denotes a metal plate which is elongated and verticallydirected and which has a rearwardly-extending flange 133 at theright-hand edge thereof. That plate also has a forwardly-extendingflange 136 at the left-hand edge thereof. The plates 139 and 134 havethe front faces thereof lying in the same plane; and they have theflanges 132 and 136 thereof confronting each other but spaced apart ashort distance to define a vertically-directed slot. The flanges 132 and136 do not extend all the way to the tops of the plates 13% and 134,respectively; instead, those flanges terminate an inch or so below thosetops.

An opening 138 is provided in the plate 139 adjacent the upper endthereof, and an opening 148 is provided in that plate adjacent the lowerend thereof; and the openings 13S and 140 are in vertical alinement.Similar openings are formed in the plate 134, and those openings are atthe same level as the corresponding openings in the plate 136}. Bearingbrackets 142 are secured to the front faces of the plates 13% and 134adjacent the openings 138 in those plates. Similarly, bearing brackets144 are secured to the front faces of the plates 13% and 134 adjacentthe openings 14% at the bottoms of those plates. The bearing brackets 1:2. and 14- 3 rotatably support small pulleys 146; and the rear faces ofthose pulleys extend through, and project short distances rearwardly of,the openings 138 and 140 in the plates 130 and 134.

The numeral 148 denotes brac ets which are general- 1y L-shaped in plan,and which have re-entrant portions that define vertically-directedslots. Alined openings 150 are provided in the re-entrant portions ofthose brackets, and those openings can telescope over fixed pins on asupporting structure. Resilient fasteners, not shown, are mounted withinthe re-entrant slots, and those fasteners can releasably seat in groovesin those pins. One bracket 148 is secured to the flange 131 of plate 139and a second bracket M8 is secured to the flange 133. The brackets 148are commercially-available elements, and they are not a part of thepresent invention.

The numeral 158 denotes a bracket that is U-shaped in plan; and the armsof that bracket abut and are suitably secured to the flanges 131 and 133of the plates 13%) and 134 respectively. A notch is provided in theU-shaped bracket 158, and that notch extends upwardly from the loweredge of that bracket. That notch is in register with the slot defined bythe flanges 132 and 136 on the plates 130 and 134, respectively, asshown by FIG. 17. An car 169 is provided on the upper edge of theU-shaped bracket 158, and that ear extends toward the front faces of theplates 13%) and 134-. An L-shaped extension 162 extends downwardly andforwardly from the lower edge of the U-shaped bracket 153; and, asindicat- 55 ed by FIG. 17, the L-shaped extension 162 is disposed to theleft of the slot defined by the flanges 132 and 136 on the plates 13%and 134, respectively.

A pivot 164 is secured to the U-shaped bracket 158 adjacent theleft-hand edge of that bracket, and that pivot rotatably supports alever 166. That lever has an upwardly-offset right-hand portion, andthat portion is in register with the upper end of the slot defined bythe flanges 132 and 136 on the plates and 134, respectively. The lever166 has an ear 168 at the left-hand end thereof, and that car projectsbeyond the left-hand edge of the U-shaped bracket 158. A helicalextension spring 170 has its lower end booked through an opening in thelever 166 and has its upper end hooked around a pin 171 on the U-shapedbracket 158. The spring 170 biases the lever 166 for rotation about thepivot 164 in the clockwise direction. The ear 168 underlies actuator 165of an empty switch 167; and that actuator will be biased downwardlyagainst that ear.

The L-shaped extension 162 constitutes a stop for the clockwise rotationof the lever 166; and whenever that lever rests against that stop, thecar 168 will raise the actuator 165 and open the empty switch 167.However, whenever the lever 166 is rotated to a generally horizontalposition, as will be the case whenever the currency storage unit isempty, the actuator 165 will be permitted to move downwardly to closethe switch 167. This arrangement is desirable because that switch wouldalso be closed if the currency storage unit were removed and notreplaced, because there would then be nothing to hold the actuator 165in its raised, switch-opening position. In this way, the lever 166 andthe switch 167 clearly indicate when an adequate supply of currency isnot available.

The numeral 172 denotes rotatable spools that support negator springs173; and those spools are mounted intermediate the U-shaped bracket 15Sand the front faces of the plates 130 and 134. Fasteners 174 are securedto the pivots for the spools 172, and those fasteners extend forwardlythrough openings in the U-shaped bracket 158. Those fasteners are heldin position relative to that U- shaped bracket by nuts 175; and thosefasteners fixedly secure the pivots of the negator springs 173 to the U-shaped bracket 158 while leaving the spools 172 free to rotate.

The number 176 denotes a U-shaped member that constitutes a closure forthe currency storage tube of FIGS. 17 and 18. The arms of that member176 extend downwardly along the outer faces of the flanges 131 and 133on the plates 1% and 134, respectively; and those arms are disposedoutwardly of the arms of the U-shaped bracket 158. Pivots 178, shown inthe form of screws, telescope through openings in the arms of theU-shaped member 176 and seat in threaded openings in the arms of theU-shaped bracket 158. An ear 130 is provided on one of the arms of theU-shaped member 176, and that car has an opening therein. A helicalextension spring 182 has the upper end thereof hooked through theopening in the ear fifth and has the lower end thereof suitably securedto a fastener on the adjacent arm of the U-shaped bracket 158. Thatspring biases the closure 176 to the solid-line position shown by FIG.18; but that spring can yield to permit that closure to be rotated tothe dotted line position shown by that figure.

The numeral 1:34 denotes a vertically-directed, elongated plate whichconstitutes the rear wall of the currency storage tube of FIGS. 17 andl8. That plate has flanges 186 which extend rearwardly from the sides ofthat plate, and those flanges abut the inner faces of the flanges 131and 133 on the plates 139 and 134, respectively. Suitable fastenersextend through the openings in the flanges 131 and 136 and 1 3 and 166to rigidly secure the plates 130 and 134 to the rear wall 184. Theplates 130 and 134 coact with the wall 3 .34 to provide a rigid currencystorage tube that has a slot in the front thereof.

An opening 183 is provided in the wall 134 adjacent the top of thatwall, and an opening 190 is provided in that wall adjacent the bottom ofthat wall. The openings 188 and 190 are in vertical registry, and theyare close to the vertically-directed center line of the wall 184. Abearing bracket 192 is secured to the wall 184 adjacent the opening 188,and a bearing bracket 194 is secured to the wall 184 adjacent theopening 190. Those bearing brackets rotatably support small pulleys 196,and they support those pulleys so that forward edges thereof extendforwardly through the openings 188 and 190 in the wall 184.

The numeral 198 generally denotes a platform that is disposable withinthe currency storage tube defined by the plates 130 and 134 and by thewall 184. That platform includes two vertically directed plates 200; andeach of those plates has a forwardly-extending top flange 202 and has aforwardly-extending side flange 204. The lower part of each plate 200 iscut-away, as at 205; and the cut-away portions 205 are adjacent eachother. The adjacent side edges of the plates 200 are bent forwardly toform confronting, vertically-directed flanges 206; and those flangeshave forwardly-extending off-sets 207 thereon.

A generally L-shaped plate 208 is disposed between the flanges 206 andbetween the off-sets 207. That plate has a horizontally-directed ear 210which projects forwardly beyond the front edges of the oflsets 207. Thetop of that ear is disposed below the level of the tops of the oflf-sets207, and the top of the plate 208 is disposed below the level of thetops of the flanges 206. Suitable fasteners, shown as bolts and nuts,rigidly secure the plates 200 to the plate 208.

The side flanges 204 have vertically-directed bearing blocks 212 securedto their outer faces. Those bearing blocks are preferably made of nylonor some other plastic material that is hard but that has a smoothsurface with a low coefficient of friction. Those blocks extendforwardly and rearwardly of the flanges 204, and thus space the plates200 from the interior surfaces of the currency storage tube. Suitablefasteners, not shown, extend through the flanges 204 and into threadedsockets in the bearing blocks 212.

A bottom plate 214 has upwardly extending ears at the opposite endsthereof; and those ears abut the lower portions of the inner faces ofthe flanges 204. Suitable fasteners are used to secure the bottom plate214 to the flanges 204 of the plates 200. The bottom plate 214 hasopenings, not shown, therein which can accommodate hooks 211 and hasfurther openings, not shown, therein which can accommodate the lowerends of helical extension springs 222, 226 and 230. The hooks 211 aresecured to the upper ends of flexible cords 220, 224, and 228; and thosehooks secure those upper ends to the bottom plate 214. The springs 222,226 and 230 are secured to the lower ends of the cords 220, 224 and 228,respec tively; and those springs secure those lower ends of those cordsto the bottom plate 214.

The bearing blocks 212 have their outer faces spaced apart a distancethat is just slightly less than the distance between the inner faces ofthe flanges 131 and 133 on the plates 130 and 134 respectively. As aresult, those bearing blocks limit sideways movement of the platform 198relative to the currency storage tube. The front and rear faces of thebearing blocks 212 are closely adjacent the inner faces of the plates130 and 134 and are closely adjacent the inner face of the wall 184 andhence those bearing blocks limit forward and rearward movement of theplatform 198 relative to the currency storage tube.

The top flanges 202 constitute a vertically-movable,horizontally-directed supporting surface within the currency storagetube. The top of the plate 208 extends forwardly through the slotdefined by the flanges 132 and 136 to underlie the ear 160 on theU-shaped bracket 158; and that top will coact with that ear to limitupward movement of the platform 198 relative to the currency storagetube. The offsets 207 extend forwardly through the slot defined by theflanges 132 and 136, and the upper edges of those oflf-sets underlie theright-hand end of the lever 166. Whenever the platform 198 is at theupper limit of its vertical path of reciprocation, the upper edges ofthe off-sets 207 will rotate the lever to a substantially horizontalposition. The ear 210 will project forwardly beyond the offsets 207 andcan receive a finger or a thumb of the operator whenever the operatorwishes to move the platform downwardly within the currency storage tube.

The flexible cords 220 and 224 incline forwardly and upwardly from theupper ends of the springs 222 and 226; and those cords will passforwardly of the flanges 202 at the tops of the plates 200 and thenextend up to and over the pulleys 146 held by the bearing brackets 142.Those cords will pass outwardly through the openings 13% and Will thenpass downwardly adjacent the outer faces of the plates and 134 untilthey reach the pulleys 146 held by the bearing brackets 144. Those cordswill then pass inwardly through the openings and will finally passupwardly to the point where the books 211 can secure those cords to thebottom plate 214 of the platform 198. The cord 228 will inclinerearwardly and upwardly from the spring 230 which is secured to thebottom plate 214, and that cord will pass rearwardly of the plate 208and then extend up to and over the pulley 196 held by the bearingbracket 192. That cord will pass rearwardly through the opening 188 andthen pass downwardly adjacent the rear face of the wall 184 until itreaches the pulley 1% held by thev bearing bracket 194. The cord 228will then pass forwardly through the opening 190 and finally passupwardly to the point where a hook 211 can secure that cord to thebottom plate 214 of the plat form 198.

The pulleys 146 and 196 coact with the flanges 202 on the plates 200 tohold the cords 220 and 224 adjacent, but out of engagement with, theinner faces of the plates 130 and 134 and to hold the cord 228 adjacent,but out of engagement with, the wall 184. The cords 220, 224 and 228will define an area which can accommodate a series of vertically-stackeddispensing tubes 218; and that area will preferably be somewhat widerthan the diameters of those tubes. The cords 220, 224 and 228 will bekept taut by the springs 222, 226 and 230, respectively, and those cordswill hold the dispensing tubes 218 out of engagement with the innersurface of the currency storage tube. The dispensing tubes 218 are thusgiven resilient three-point support and are kept from jamming within thecurrency storage tube. The cords 220, 224 and 228 move with the platform198, and hence the dispensing tubes 218 do not have to slide or sliprelative to an adjacent surface until those tubes move upwardly beyondthe upper limits of the cords 220, 224 and 228.

The bearing brackets 142 are set at the same level, but the bearingbracket 192 is set at a slightly higher level, as shown by FIG. 19. Thisis desirable because it keeps the inner faces of the pulleys 146 and 196from narrowing down the area through which the dispensing tubes 218 mustpass. In this way, the present invention assures jam-free raising of thedispensing tubes 218 to the upper end of the currency storage tube.

The Negator springs 173 extend downwardly from the spools 172, and thosesprings are disposed adjacent the slot defined by the flanges 132 and136 on the plates 130 and 134, respectively. The lower ends of thosesprings are secured to the off-sets 207 of the platform 198; and thosesprings provide a substantially constant upward bias on the platform198. However, those springs can yield to permit that platform to bemoved downwardly toward the bottom of the currency storage tube.

The dispensing tubes 218, in which the paper currency is folded andheld, are light in weight and are fragile. Consequently, it is importantthat those tubes not be subjected to heavy compressive forces. Yet theplatform 198 must be urged upwardly toward the top of the coin 1 1storage tube with suflicicnt force to assure prompt and full upwardmovement of that platform. The present invention supplies the requisiteforce and yet avoids crushing of the dispensing tubes by utilizingNegator springs which provide a force that is less than the forces whichcan crush those tubes.

The currency storage tube defined by the plates 130 and 134 and by thewall 184 can accommodate almost fifty dispensing tubes, and thus canstore up a sizeable amount of money. However, the amount of money thatis so stored is not limitless; and hence the off-sets 2.07 are arrangedto engage and rotate the lever 166 whenever the platform 19% reaches theupper end of the currency storage tube. Such rotation will enable theempty switch 167 to illuminate a suitable Empty lamp.

The dispensing tubes 2 18 are necessarily bulky as compared to coins;and hence those tubes occupy a large volume. Consequently, it isnecessary to utilize substantially the entire internal volume of thecurrency storage tube for the storing of the dispensing tubes. Thepresent invention makes substantially the entire internal volume of thecurrency storage tube available for the storing of the dispensing tubes218 by locating spring 173 outside of that tube.

The currency storage tube of FIGS. 17 and 18 conveniently and fullyprotects and stores currency; and that tube is readily portable. Thattube can be bodily assembled with and can be bodily separated from acurrencydispensing device. One such currency-dispensing device is shownby FIGS. 19 and 20.

That currency-dispensing device includes a horizontallyextending framemember 238 that is L-shaped in cross section. A secondhorizontally-extending frame member is dcnotcd by the numeral 240; andthat member has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface 242. Ears243 are provided on the frame member 240, and those ears extendrearwardly from that frame member in a generally-horizontal direction.Two pins 244 extend rearwardly from the frame member 241); and the rearends of those pins are grooved and are of reduced diameter. Thosereduced diameter rear ends are dimensioned to telescope within theopenings 159 in the L-shaped brackets 148 on the currency storage tubeof FIGS. 17 and 18. The grooves in those pins will releasably hold theresilient fasteners used with those brackets.

The numeral 246 denotes plates that extend transversely of the framemembers 2.38 and 240. Those plates have flanges 247 at the front, rearand bottom edges thereof. The front flanges 247 abut and are secured tothe frame member 238, and the bottom flanges 247 are secured to the ears243. The rear flanges 247 abut and are secured to a rearwardly-disposed,horizontally-directed frame member 250. The plates 246 coact with theframe members 238, 249 and 250 to provide a sturdy, rigid and stationaryframe for the currency-dispensing device. A pin 248 is secured to theleft-hand face of the right-hand plate 246 in FIG. 20; and that pin willbe in register with and will be engaged by the ear 189 on the closuremember 176 of the currency storage tube of FIGS. 17 and 18.

The numeral 252 denotes an elongated pivot that extends through openingsin the plates 246. That pivot rotatably supports a large U-shaped memberthat has a front plate 254 and has rearwardiy-extending flanges 256 atthe ends of that plate. The pivot 252 extends through openings adjacentthe tops of the flanges 256. A generally U-shaped closure 2'50 underliesthe rearmost portions of the flanges -6; and that closure is secured toears 253 on those flanges by fasteners 262, such as screws. The flanges256 are spanned by a pivot 264; and while that pivot extends throughthose flanges, that pivot does not engage the plates 246.

A plate 266 has flanges 268 at the opposite ends thereof, and thoseflanges have openings which accommodate the pivot 264. The plate 266also has a bottom flange 272. A slot 276 is provided in one of theflanges 268, and that slot accommodates pin 276 that is held by theadjacent flange 256 of the U-shaped member. Two springs 274 encircle thepivot 264 and bear against the plate 266 while also bearing against theflanges 256. Those springs bias the plate 266 for rotation about thepivot 264 in the counter clockwise direction, as that plate is viewed inFIG. 19. However, the pin 276 limits the counter clockwise rotation ofthe plate 266, thereby normally holding that plate in the position shownby FIG. 19. The springs 274 can yield to permit the plate 266 to berotated in the clockwise direction; and the pin 27 6 and the slot 270will permit a limited amount of such rotation.

The plate 254 coacts with the upstanding front edge of the U-shapedclosure 260 to define the sides of a recess; and the flange 272 on theplate 266 normally closes the top of that recess. The bottom of thatrecess is open, and it is normally held in register with the outlet endof the currency storage tube defined by plates 13D and 134 and by wall184. The Negator springs 173 will normally urge a dispensing tube 218upwardly into that recess, and those springs will normally hold furtherdispensing tubes 218 in readiness to enter that recess.

When one of the dispensing tubes 218 is to be ejected, a suitableactuator, not shown, Will rotate the U-shaped member in the counterclockwise direction relative to the pivot 252. The front edge of theU-shaped closure 260 will engage the uppermost dispensing tube 218 andwill force that tube to move to the right in FIG. 19; and that closurewill force that tube to move beyond the top of the wall 184 and beyondthe top of the inclined surface 242. As that dispensing tube does so,that dispensing tube will become unsupported and will fall downwardlypast the inclined surface 242 and past the frame memher 240 to a moneyreceptacle, not shown. That money receptacle will suitably open to theexterior of the moneydispensing machine so patrons can reach in and pickup dispensing tubes entering that receptacle. Thereafter, the U-shapedmember will be suitably returned to the position shown by FIG. 19; andthereupon a further dispensing tube 218 will be moved up into the recessdefined by plate 254, flange 272 and closure 260.

As the U-shaped member was rotated in the counter clockwise direction,the closure 260 moved into position above the next uppermost dispensingtube 218; and in doing so it prevented the release of any of thedispensing tubes 218 held within the currency storage tube. As theU-shaped member was returned to the position shown by FIG. 19, theclosure 260 uncovered the outlet end of the currency storage tube andthereby permitted the next dispensing tube 218 to move up into therecess within the U-shaped member.

When it is necessary or desirable to insert further dispensing tubes 218into the currency storage tube, that ourrency storage tube will usuallybe removed bodily from the money-dispensing device; and, as thatcurrency storage tube is so removed, the closure member 176 will respondto the spring 182 to automatically move into position to cover theoutlet end of that currency storage tube. That closure member wasautomatically moved to uncovering position by the engagement of ear 180with pin 248 as the currency storage tube was bodily moved toward therear face of the frame member 240. That ear engaged that pin immediatelybefore the openings in the brackets 148 started telescoping over thereduceddiameter rear ends of the pins 244; and by the time thoseopenings were fully telescoped over those reduced-diameter rear ends,the closure member 176 had been rotated to the uncovering position shownby FIG. 19. In this way, the closure member 176 automatically moves tocovering position, and thereby automatically prevents the escape ofdispensing tubes 218, whenever the currency storage tube is separatedfrom the money-dispensing device; and that closure member automaticallymoves to uncovering position, and thereby automatically makes thedispensing tubes 218 available, whenever the currency storage tube ismounted within the money-dispensing device.

In some instances, just a few dispensing tubes 218 need be insertedwithin the currency storage tube to completely fill that currencystorage tube; and the pivot 264 and the plate 266 make it possible toinsert those dispensing tubes without any need of removing the currencystorage tube. All that need be done is to lay a dispensing tube 218 inthe generally V-shaped area between the upper portions of the plates 254and 266 and to press downwardly on that dispensing tube. That tube willcause the plate 266 to rotate in the clockwise direction about the pivot264, thereby permitting that dispensing tube to move down intoengagement with the dispensing tube held within the recess defined byplate 254, flange 272 and closure 260. Further downward movement of thefreshly inserted dispensing tube will force the lower dispensing tubes218 further down relative to the currency storage tube. Those lowerdispensing tubes 218 will be unable to escape because they will beconfined by the currency storage tube or by the front edge of closure260 and the lower portion of plate 254. Successive dispensing tubes 218can easily be inserted in this manner; and after the last such tube hasbeen inserted, the plate 266 will respond to the springs 274 to move itsflange 272 into position to block the escape of the dispensing tubes218.

In FIGS. 17-20, the paper currency has been rolled or folded anddisposed within cylindrical tubes 218; and the ends of the currencyproject beyond the ends of those tubes so that currency can be easilygrasped and removed from the said tubes. Those tubes can be omitted ifthe paper bills are rolled up to simulate those tubes and are then heldin rolled form by rubber bands or the like.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown anddescribed two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it shouldbe apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be madein the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What we claim is:

l. A device that can dispense paper currency held in dispensingcylinders and that comprises a tube, a platform that is disposed withinsaid tube and that is movable relative to said tube, a plurality ofpulleys adjacent the top of said tube, a plurality of pulleys adjacentthe bottom of said tube, a plurality of flexible cords that areconnected to said platform and that pass over said pulleys, at least oneof said cords being adjacent one side of the interior of said tube andconstituting a substantially closed loop, two of said cords beingadjacent the opposite side of said interior of said tube andconstituting substantially closed loops, said cords being spacedinwardly from said interior of said tube to be adapted to engage saiddispensing cylinders and thereby hold said dispensing cylinders awayfrom said interior of said tube, said cords moving as said platformmoves whereby said cylinders do not have to move relative to thesurfaces which said cylinders contact, said two cords being spaced fromeach other in one direction transversely of the axis of the tube andcoacting to define a plane within said tube, said one cord being spacedfrom said plane a distance substantially equal to the diameter of anyone of said dispensing cylinders so said cords can provide three-pointsupport for said cylinders, a spring that biases said platform towardthe outlet end of said tube, and a finger-receiving projection on saidpla form that can be used to move said platform away from said outletend of said tube despite said spring, the pulley for the upper end ofsaid one cord being displaced vertically from the pulleys for the upperends of said two cords.

2. A device that can dispense paper currency held in dispensingcylinders and that comprises a tube, a platform that is disposed withinsaid tube and that is movable relative to said tube, a plurality ofpulleys adjacent the top of said tube, a plurality of pulleys adjacentthe bottom of said tube, a plurality of flexible cords that areconnected to said platform and that pass over said pulleys, at least oneof said cords being adjacent one side of the interior of said tube, atleast one other cord being adjacent the opposite side of said interiorof said tube, said cords being spaced inwardly from said interior ofsaid tube to be adapted to engage said dispensing cylinders and therebyhold said dispensing cylinders away from said interior of said tube,there being a suflicient number of said cords to provide the principalresistance to lateral displacement of said dispensing cylindersthroughout the major portion of the movement of said platform, two ofsaid cords being spaced from each other in one direction transversely ofthe axis of the tube and coacting to define a plane Within said tube,another of said cords being spaced from said plane a distancesubstantially equal to the diameter of any one of said dispensingcylinders, said cords moving as said platform moves whereby saidcylinders do not have to move relative to the surfaces which saidcylinders contact, and a spring that biases said platform toward theoutlet end of said tube, said cords having looplike configurations, saidcords enabling said dispensing cylinders to be assembled and held in anupright stack which has insuflicient lateral stability to remain uprightwithout the support supplied by said cords. I

3. A device that can dispense paper currency and that comprises a tube,a platform that is disposed within said tube and that is movablerelative to said tube, a plurality of pulleys adjacent the top of saidtube, a plurality of pulleys adjacent the bottom of said tube aplurality of flexible cords that are connected to said platform and thatpass over said pulleys, at least one of said cords being adjacent oneside of the interior of said tube, at least one other cord beingadjacent the opposite side of said interior of said tube, said cordsmoving as said platform moves whereby said currency does not have tomove relative to the surfaces which are adaptedand intended to becontacted by said currency, there being a sufficient number of saidcords to provide the principal resistance to lateral displacement ofsaid currency throughout the major portion of the movement of saidplatform, two of said cords being spaced from each other in onedirection transversely of the axis of the tube and coacting to define aplane within said tube, another of said cords being spaced from saidplane a distance substantially equal to the diameter of any one of theunits of said currency, and a spring that biases said platform towardthe outlet end of said tube, said cords enabling said currency to beassembled and held in an upright stack which has insufficient lateralstability to remain upright without the support supplied by said cords.

4. A device that can dispense light weight objects and that comprises atube, a platform that is disposed within said tube and that is movablerelative to said tube, and a plurality of flexible cords that areconnected to said platform and that extend from said platform toward theoutlet end of said tube, at least one of said cords being adjacent oneside of the interior of said tube, at least one other cord beingadjacent the opposite side of said interior of said tube, said cordsbeing adapted to hold said objects away from said interior of said tube,there being a suflicient number of said cords to provide the principalresistance to lateral displacement of said objects throughout the majorportion of the movement of said platform, two of said cords being spacedfrom each other in one direction transversely of the axis of the tubeand coacting to define a plane within said tube, another of said cordsbeing spaced from said plane a distance substantially equal to thediameter of any one of said objects, said cords moving as said platformmoves whereby said objects do not have to move relative to the surfaceswhich said objects contact, said cords enabling said objects to beassembled and held in an upright stack which has in- P sufficientlateral stability to remain upright without the support supplied by saidcords.

5. In a money storage tube that has an outlet end, a platform that isdisposed within said tube and that is movable axially of said tube, ahelical compression spring that is disposed within said tube, a secondhelical compression spring that is disposed Within said tube, saidhelical compression springs being coaxial and being mounted in tandemrelation, a rotatable element interposed between one end of one of saidsprings and one end of said tube, a set of interacting surfaces on saidone end of said one spring and on said rotatable element that causessaid rotatable element to rotate with said one end of said one spring, asecond set of interacting surfaces on said one end of said tube and onsaid rotatable element that permits said rotatable element to rotatefreely relative to said one end of said tube, a second rotatable elementinterposed between one end of the other of said springs and saidplatform, a third set of interacting surfaces on said one end of saidother spring and on said second rotatable element that causes saidsecond rotatable element to rotate with said one end of said otherspring, a fourth set of interacting surfaces on said second rotatableelement and on said platform that permits said second rotatable elementto rotate freely relative to said platform, a pair of relativelyrotatable elements interposed between the adjacent ends of said springs,a fifth set and a sixth set of interacting surfaces on said adjacentends of said springs and on said pair of relatively rotatable elementsthat cause said pair of relatively rotatable elements to rotate withsaid adjacent ends of said springs, and a seventh set of interactingsurfaces on said pair of relatively rotatable elements that permits saidpair of relatively rotatable elements, and hence said adjacent ends ofsaid springs, to rotate freely relative to each other, said rotatableelements and said pair of relatively rotatable elements and saidinteracting surfaces enabling said springs to rotate freely relative toeach other and relative to said platform and said tube, as said springsare compressed, rather than bind against said platform and said one endof said tube and the interior of said tube.

6. In a money storage tube that has an outlet end, a platform that isdisposed within said tube and that is movable axially of said tube, ahelical compression spring that is disposed Within said tube, a secondhelical compression spring that is disposed within said tube, saidhelical compression springs being coaxial and being mounted in tandemrelation, a pair of relatively rotatable elements interposed between theadjacent ends of said springs, a set of interacting surfaces between oneof said relatively rotatable elements and the adjacent end of one ofsaid springs that causes said one relatively rotatable element to rotatewith said adjacent end of said one spring, a second set of interactingsuifaces between the other of said relatively rotatable elements and theadjacent end of the other of said springs that causes said otherrelatively rotatable element to rotate with said adjacent end of saidother spring, and a third set of interacting surfaces between saidrelatively rotatable elements that permits said relatively rotatableelements, and hence said adjacent ends of said springs, to rotate freelyrelative to each other, said relatively rotatable elements and saidinteracting surfaces enabling said springs to rotate freely relative toeach other and relative to said platform and said tube, as said springsare compressed, rather than bind against the interior of said tube.

7. The combination of a money-storage device and a money-dispensingdevice comprising a money-storage tube that is adapted to be mountedwithin said moneydispensing device and that has an outlet end, aplatform that is disposed within said tube and that is movable axiallyof said tube, a spring that is disposed within said tube and that urgessaid platform toward said outlet end of said tube, a closure that ismovable into position adjacent to and in register with said outlet endof said tube and that is also movable out of register with said outletend of said tube, said closure blocking the discharge of money from saidoutlet end of said tube whenever said closure is in said positionadjacent to and in register with said outlet end of said tube, saidclosure permitting the discharge of money from said outlet end of saidtube when said closure is out of register with said outlet end of saidtube, and interacting surfaces on said closure and on saidmoney-dispensing device that lock said money storage tube to saidmoney-dispensing device as said closure is moved out of register withsaid outlet end of said tube during the assembling of said money-storagetube with said money-dispensing device, said interacting surfaces onsaid closure and on said moneydispensing device enabling said closure tomove into said position adjacent to and in register with said outlet endof said tube as said money storage tube is unlocked from saidmoney-dispensing device.

8. In a money storage tube that is adapted to supply coins in stackedarray to a coin ejector and that has an outlet end, a platform that isdisposed within said tube and that is movable axially of said tube, aspring that urges said platform toward said outlet end of said tube, aclosure that has a plate-like portion which is movable into position inregister with said outlet end of said tube and that locks saidmoney-storage tube to said moneydispensing device as said closure ismoved out of register with said outlet end of said tube during theassembling of said money-storage tube with said money-dispensing device,said plate-like portion of said closure overlying the major part of saidoutlet end of said tube and thereby blocking the discharge of money fromsaid outlet end of said tube whenever said plate-like portion of saidclosure is in said position in register with said outlet end of saidtube, and said closure permitting the discharge of money from saidoutlet end of said tube when said plate-like portion of said closure isout of register with said outlet end of said tube.

9. A money storage tube that is adapted to be mounted within and to beremoved from a money-dispensing device, said tube having an open upperend, a closure that is movable into position in register with said openupper end of said tube and that also is movable out of register withsaid open upper end of said tube, said closure spanning the spacebetween opposite sides of said open upper end of said tube and overlyinga substantial portion of said open upper end of said tube whenever saidclosure is in register with said open upper end of said tube, a platformthat is disposed within and movable relative to said tube, and thatunderlies and supports money within said tube, a spring that urges saidplatform and the money supported thereby toward said open upper end ofsaid tube and hence toward said closure whenever said closure is inregister with said open upper end of said tube, said closure beingmovable out of reigster with said open upper end of said tube to permitsaid spring and said platform to discharge money from said open upperend of said tube, said spring and said platform urging the uppermostunit of money against said closure whenever said closure is in registerwith said open upper end of said tube thus resisting movement of saidclosure out of register with said open upper end of said tube, andsurfaces on said tube that are adapted to cooperate with surfaces onsaid money dispensing device to insure that said closure is out ofregister with said open upper end of said tube when said tube is mountedwithin said moneydispensing device, the spring-induced force betweensaid uppermost unit of money and said closure tending to help preventaccidental movement of said closure out of register with said open upperend of said tube but permitting movement of said closure out of registerwith said open upper end of said tube as said tube is mounted withinsaid money-dispensing device.

10. In a money storage tube that has an outlet end, a

closure that has a portion which is movable into position in registerwith said outlet end of said tube and that is also movable out ofregister with said outlet end of said tube, said portion of said closureoverlying the major part of said outlet end of said tube and therebyblocking the discharge of money from said outlet end of said tubewhenever said portion of said closure is in said position in registerwith said outlet end of said tube, said closure permitting the dischargeof money from said outlet end of said tube when said portion of saidclosure is out of register with said outlet end of said tube, saidclosure having an opening therein which will be in register with saidoutlet end of the tube and which will permit coins to pass through saidopening when said portion of the closure is out of register with theoutlet end of the tube, abutment means normally disposed within anextension of said opening in the closure when said opening is inregister with the outlet end of the tube, said abutment lying within thepath of movement of the closure and effective when a coin within thetube is disposed within said opening to block movement of the closure toa position in which the opening in the closure is out of register withthe outlet end of the tube by reason of engagement of said coin withsaid abutment.

11. An ejector for a money dispensing device that is movable relative toa money storage tube to be adapted to effect the dispensing of moneyfrom said tube and that has a portion thereof that normally overliessaid money storage tube and thereby normally prevents the issuance ofmoney from said money dispensing device, said portion being'bodilymovable with said ejector to be adapted to efiect the issuance of moneyfrom said money dispensing device but being movable out of register withsaid money storage tube while said ejector remains in register with saidmoney storage tube, thereby facilitating the loading of said moneystorage tube while said ejector is in register with said money storagetube.

12. An ejector for a money dispensing device that is movable relative toa money storage tube to be adapted to efiect the dispensing of moneyfrom said tube and that has a portion thereof that normally overliessaid money storage tube and thereby normally prevents the issuance ofmoney from said money dispensing device, said portion being bodilymovable with said ejector to be adapted to eifect the issuance of moneyfrom said money dispensing device but being movable out of register withsaid money storage tube while said ejector remains in register with saidmoney storage tube, thereby facilitating the loading of said moneystorage tube while said ejector is in register with said money storagetube, said portion being spring-biased into register With said moneystorage tube but being movable against said bias, said portion its andanother portion of said ejector normally defining a generally V-shapedrecess in which money is adapted to be inserted, the first said portionbeing movable relative to said other portion to widen the bottom of saidrecess and thereby be adapted to permit said inserted money to pass intosaid money storage tube.

13. In a money storage tube that is adapted to be mounted within a moneydispensing device having a notch, said storage tube having an outlet endand a closure that is movable into position in register with said outletend of said tube and that is also movable out of register with saidoutlet end of said tube, said closure blocking the discharge of moneyfrom said outlet end of said tube whenever said closure is in saidposition in register with said outlet end of said tube, said closurepermitting the discharge of money from said outlet-end of said tube whensaid closure is out of register with said outlet end of said tube, andan ear on said closure that is adapted to register with said notchwhenever said tube is mounted in assembled relation with said moneydispensing device, said car being movable with said closure and beingengageable with said notch to lock said money storage tube in positionwithin said money dispensing device as said closure is moved out ofregister with said outlet end of said tube, said ear being separablefrom said notch to free said money storage tube from said moneydispensing deviceas said closure moves to said position in register withsaid outlet end of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS494,346 Pierce Mar. 28, 1893 658,828 Brandt Oct. 2, 1900 1,123,296Hibner Jan. 5, 1915 1,197,577 Gove Sept. 5, 1916 1,605,496 Barbieri Nov.2, 1926 1,622,262 Kindrat Mar. 22, 1927 1,637,549 Chandler Aug. 2, 19271,638,010 Fausek Aug. 9, 1927 1,881,894 Olsen Oct. 11, 1932 2,229,928Morrison I an. 28, 1941 2,284,225 Norris May 26, 1942 2,397,403 BishopMar. 26, 1946 2,498,150 Brahe Feb. 21, 1950 2,518,894 Humbarger Aug. 15,1950 2,524,462 Miller Oct. 3, 1950 2,720,336 Kosar Oct. 11, 19552,805,675 Noyes Sept. 10, 1957 2,891,568 Gaffney June 23, 1959 2,955,724Deucher Oct. 11, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,969 Great Britain of 1878

1. A DEVICE THAT CAN DISPENSE PAPER CURRENCY HELD IN DISPENSINGCYLINDERS AND THAT COMPRISES A TUBE, A PLATFORM THAT IS DISPOSED WITHINSAID TUBE AND THAT IS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID TUBE, A PLURALITY OFPULLEYS ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID TUBE, A PLURALITY OF PULLEYS ADJACENTTHE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBE, A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE CORDS THAT ARECONNECTED TO SAID PLATFORM AND THAT PASS OVER SAID PULLEYS, AT LEAST ONEOF SAID CORDS BEING ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE ANDCONSTITUTING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED LOOP, TWO OF SAID CORDS BEINGADJACENT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE ANDCONSTITUTING SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED LOOPS, SAID CORDS BEING SPACEDINWARDLY FROM SAID INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE TO BE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAIDDISPENSING CYLINDERS AND THEREBY HOLD SAID DISPENSING CYLINDERS AWAYFROM SAID INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE, SAID CORDS MOVING AS SAID PLATFORMMOVES WHEREBY SAID CYLINDERS DO NOT HAVE TO MOVE RELATIVE TO THESURFACES WHICH SAID CYLINDERS CONTACT, SAID TWO CORDS BEING SPACED FROMEACH OTHER IN ONE DIRECTION